Today
U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd
Dist.-Texas) delivered the following closing statement on the floor of
the House during the 36-hour debate on Iraq.

A
29-year Air Force veteran, Johnson served in both the Korean and Vietnam
Wars. Johnson spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War, more than
half of that time in solitary confinement.

Coincidentally, this week
in 1973 as one of the longest held captives, Johnson finally left Hanoi on February 12, 1973 and returned home to Texas on February 17,
1973.

Earlier
this week on Monday, Johnson spent the anniversary of his release pleading with
a House panel to accept his amendment to support and fully fund the troops for
the 36 hours of debate on the troop escalation in Iraq.

Johnson’s floor statement
follows:

“You know, I flew 62 combat
missions in the Korean War and 25 missions in the Vietnam War before being shot
down.

“I had the privilege of
serving in the United States Air Force for 29 years, attending the prestigious National War College,
and commanding two air bases, among other things.

“I mention these stories
because I view the debate on the floor not just as a U.S. Congressman elected
to serve the good people of the Third District in Texas, but also through the
lens of a life-long fighter pilot, student of war, a combat warrior, a leader
of men, and a Prisoner of War.

“Ironically, this week marks
the anniversary that I started a new life – and my freedom from prison in Hanoi.

“I spent nearly seven years as
a Prisoner of War in Vietnam,
more than half of that time in solitary confinement. I flew out of Hanoi on February 12, 1973
with other long-held Prisoners of War – weighing just 140 pounds. And
tomorrow – 34 years ago, I had my homecoming to Texas – a truly unspeakable blessing of
freedom.

“As you can imagine, they had
to carry me out of the stocks because I couldn’t walk. The following day,
they put me in leg irons… for 2 ½ years. That’s when you have a tight
metal cuff around each ankle – with a foot-long bar connecting the legs.

“I still have little feeling
in my right arm and my right hand… and my body has never been the same since my
nearly 2,500 days of captivity.

“But I will never let my
physical wounds hold me back.

“Instead, I try to see the
silver lining. I say that because in some way … I’m living a dream…a hope
I had for the future.

“From April 16, 1966 to
February 12, 1973 – I prayed that I would return home to the loving embrace of
my wife, Shirley, and my three kids, Bob, Gini, and Beverly…

“And my fellow POWs and I
clung to the hope of when – not if – we returned home.

“We would spend hours
tapping on the adjoining cement walls about what we would do when we got home
to America.

“We pledged to quit griping
about the way the government was running the war in Vietnam and do something about it…
We decided that we would run for office and try to make America a better place for all.

“So – little did I know back
in my rat-infested 3 x 8 dark and filthy cell that 34 years after my departure
from Hell on Earth… I would spend the anniversary of my release pleading for a
House panel to back my measure to support and fully fund the troops in harm’s
way….and that just days later I would be on the floor of the U.S. House of
Representatives surrounded by distinguished veterans urging Congress to support
our troops to the hilt.

“We POWs were still in Vietnam when Washington
cut the funding for Vietnam.
I know what it does to morale and mission success. Words can not fully describe the horrendous damage of the
anti-American efforts against the war back home to the guys on the ground.

“Our
captors would blare nasty recordings over the loud speaker of Americans
protesting back home…tales of Americans spitting on Vietnam veterans when they came
home... and worse.

“Our troops – and their families – want, need and deserve the full support of
the country – and the Congress. Moms and dads watching the news need to
know that the Congress will not leave their sons and daughters in harm’s way
without support.

“Since the President announced
his new plan for Iraq
last month, there has been steady progress. He changed the rules of
engagement and removed political protections.

“There are reports we wounded
the number two of Al Qaeda and killed his deputy. Yes, Al Qaeda operates
in Iraq.
It’s alleged that top radical jihadist Al-Sadr has fled Iraq – maybe to Iran. And Iraq’s closed its borders with Iran and Syria. The President changed
course and offered a new plan …we are making progress. We must
seize the opportunity to move forward, not stifle future success.

“The grim reality is that this
House measure is the first step to cutting funding of the troops…Just ask John
Murtha about his ‘slow-bleed’ plan that hamstrings our troops in harm’s way.

“Now it’s time to stand
up for my friends who did not make it home – and those who fought and died in
Iraq - so I can keep my promise that when we got home we would quit
griping about the war and do something positive about it…and we must not
allow this Congress to leave these troops like the Congress left us.

“Today, let my body serve as a
brutal reminder that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past… instead learn
from them.

“We must not cut funding for
our troops. We must stick by them. We must support them all the
way…To our troops we must remain…always faithful.